Luis Enrique was fired as Spain’s national team coach on Thursday, December 8, only two days after they were knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco in the round of 16.
Spain was defeated 3-0 in a penalty shootout by Morocco on Tuesday, December 6, after a 0-0 draw in normal and extra time.
The Spanish Football Association announced Luis Enrique’s dismissal and announced that he will be replaced by Luis de la Fuente, manager of Spain’s under-21 team.
De la Fuente, 61, coached Spain’s under-19 team to a European Championship championship in 2015, the under-21 team to the same title in 2019, and the side that won a silver medal in 2018..
A statement from the Spanish Football Association read;
“The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff at the helm of the absolute national team in recent years.
”The RFEF has chosen Luis de la Fuente as the new absolute national coach. The sports director, José Francisco Molina, has forwarded a report to the president, Luis Rubiales, in which he recommends the choice of the coach from La Rioja, until now the U-21 coach, to lead the new stage that begins after the World Cup in Qatar. Once his appointment is ratified by the board of directors, Luis de la Fuente would be presented on Monday, December 12 at 12:30 p.m. in the Luis Aragonés room of the Ciudad del Fútbol.”
Luis Enrique, 52, guided Spain to the Euro 2020 semifinals and the 2021 Nations League title, and he just led La Roja to the 2023 Nations League final four.
The Spanish FA had offered him a contract extension before to the World Cup, but Luis Enrique waited until after the tournament to make a decision.
Spain’s next match in qualifying for Euro 2024 will be against Norway in March, and De la Fuente will be in charge for the first time.
